So, my birthday was on Monday. And I got sick on Sunday. Of course. Ever since I was little, I’ve pretty much always gotten sick on or around my birthday. My mom too — her birthday is on the 25th. This year was no exception and Tony and The Max even joined in with the coughing and hacking (it might even be Tony’s fault. Just saying.).

Luckily, we’d gone out for a nice dinner on Saturday that wound up being my birthday dinner. We went to Essenza, an Italian restaurant on Kensington Park Road. Lovely little place. AND they had Vin Santo. Not to mention an incredible plate of handmade pasta with a black truffle sauce.

I very much love truffles. We’ll definitely be back there. Everything was good, the staff were really nice, and The Max even ate a giant plate of penne. It seemed like a good spot, and not very big. The table behind us was filled up with a bunch of actors (no one that I recognized on site, though one fellow looked a bit familiar) talking show business. They were quite entertaining. Not that we were eavesdropping; you just couldn’t help but over hear some of their louder jokes & shared laughs. A fun group of people, definitely. And they liked The Max, so more points in their favor. Also met a couple more expats that live not too terribly far away. The lady was another finance-y person like Tony while her hubby (or boyfriend, not sure) was a more creative type working in advertising.

Why yes, that is a car covered in grass.

The Max and I also checked out the Banger Brothers on Portobello (bangers referring to sausages, not anything to do with that movie about the Banger Sisters). Quite good sausage sandwiches (though The Max had a hot dog without bread) and really good chips as well.

While we were eating, a car covered in grass drove by. Yes, just another day on Portobello Road…

In other news, The Max had his second soccer…er, sorry, football, class yesterday. He has such a wonderful time in class but then he broke down crying again when it was over. It could be partly the timing…it starts at 3:15, right when IF he’s going to take a nap (to which question the answer is most often “no” these days), he conks out.

In yet more other news, I have nothing to report. Haven’t heard back from Larry yet on the manuscript that’s out on submission. So no idea how it’s going, which definitely drives me just the tiniest bit nuts. This is a whole new experience for me. I never had an agent sub anything for me before. And this time, it’s also going out to some editors that I know personally. I hope they don’t hate it. Not that I’ll be mad at them if they don’t want to buy it (if it isn’t their thing, it just isn’t), but I don’t want them to hate it, you know?

There’s also a character I keep obsessing over a bit. He’s rather over the top, but he’s also very close to my heart, being based on a few friends I had in high school (who may or may not recognize themselves in him, I dunno). I know he might rub some people the wrong way. Maybe. Or he’ll crack them up. I dunno.

But hey, we’ll see. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. I’d really love it if this book finds a home. I know that if an editor wants to pick it up they’ll want changes. Am so very curious to see what they will be. A good editor only makes a book better.

And I’m going to be starting on my next book in February, so hopefully the finding a nanny business will work out okay for us. (and no, I didn’t find a Mary Poppins…)